The High Court (HC) on Wednesday ordered former Awami League lawmaker Dr HBM Iqbal and 14 other accused to surrender before a lower court concerned in connection with a case filed over the shooting incident during a procession led by BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in 2001.
The HC bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain asked them to surrender before the trial court concerned after receiving the copy of the order.
The HC bench also stayed the trial court verdict that had in a verdict acquitted the accused from the case in 2010.
The HC bench came up with the order following a petition filed by Eunus Ali Mridha, who had filed the case in 2001, challenging the legality of the lower court order that had acquitted the accused from the charges in 2010, Advocate Aminul Islam, counsel for Eunus Ali Mridha, said.
The lawyers further said the lower court had acquitted the accused following a government petition for case withdrawal, which he claimed was an abuse of legal procedure.
HBM Iqbal allegedly opened fire on a procession led by BNP leader Mirza Abbas on February 13, 2001. The incident resulted in the immediate death of three BNP activists, while another victim later succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
